Draft-gear.



J. F. 'GOURSODL DRAFT GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE14, 1912.

Pam-,ed 0@t.28,1913.

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.En nrnntr OFFICE.'

dfllllllbl' lll'. GUMON, F PITCAIRN, lfENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rammed oer. 28,1913.

Application filed .lune ld, 1912. Serial No. 703,719.

gear of simple construction and liigliellioienoy,y designed to 'utilize the Wedging and releasing qualities of friction-Creatin Wedge blocks between a central bollino mem er and a surrounding casing, ufr combination with an endmost coasting wedge block and spring so arranged' to coperate with thesaid ele ments, as eliall lee more fully hereinafter described.

'llie partioular object oir" the invention is.

to provide. in a friction draft gear of this tyloe, means' for separating an assembled eries of friction-creating blocks by the Wedoing action of a central wedge block of a su eiently blunt formation to readil release upon release ol. pressure, in com ine.- tion with an opposing Wedge block, preferably springsy retarde fengaging the inner terminals of said friction-creating Wedge blocks, in such a inanneras to exerta high degree of lateral pressure therein9 anden arranged with relation to said friction-ereating Wedge blocks, that the will readily collapse' and releaseupon re ease ol pres sure, With the assistance -oii 'an interposed spring iiaembery if desired.

These objects are accomplished bythe construction illustrated in the accom anyng drawings, showing one preferred "orin ol the invention, inWliiclr- Figure l is .e central Vvertical sectional 'view of -tlieeornplete draft'gear assembled,

tlie parts being in extended position, indicated by tile line l. l. ol'Fig. 2. Fie 2 1s -a horizontal seotional viewindioated the line ll. ll. of Fi 1. Figs. 'und et are transverse sections. -vews on thelinee lll. Hl. and lill'. lll., respectively, et Fig. l'.

Lol" the coupler y yoke 3 by transverse rivets l in themanner Fig. 5 is a detail View in perspective or trie centrally arranged buffing wedge block. Fig.

6 1s a sunilar View of one of the segmental shaped friction Creatin 'Wedge'bloelre Fig.

7 is a similar View o the terminal Wedge block.

ln the drawin s, E). represents the drawbor xedly connected with the customary in this art, said yolre embraolng the easingr and cylinder-5 at top and bottom, as shown, the yoke and casing bein located between the usual draft sills G, 6, o. the oar framing. y

The numerals 7 and 8 designate a -l'ollower plate and filling block, respectively set against the rear end of casing 5 and against -tlie outer end of block 8, against which bears the rounded end ol" the strap 3, the llin block being preferably secured to the en ,of the strap by a-rivet,as indicated. The

numeral 10 designates e. :followerl plate like plate 7. Each of these follower lates extends out laterally at each side cilltlieyolie 3 and bears against the usual front and book stops 11 and 12 of any suitable construction,

secured to the center sills, and which pro vde against pulling and boiling strains, re spectively, as is Well understood.

Assembled within the front portion of I casing 5 is a plurality of segmental shaped friction-creating Wedge blocks 1,3, the outer. tacos lll of which are cylindrical, the outer rearmost portion of said blocks tapering inu Wardly, as indicated at 15, providing in- Wardly extending supporting terminals 16' having innerinclined Wedgng faces 17'. lfaoes il' are sullioien'tly acute with relation to the longitudinal center ot the gear to etleot e ligfl'i degree of outward pressure by their act-ion a einst faces lll-lof the centrally disposed simi ar acute Wedge block 19, or

lvice versa.

A. forward central wedge block 20 having blunt wedge faces 21 is lnterposed'between the fol-Ward follower 10 endtlieeeries of friction-creating Wegge blocks it endengages by its faces similar blunt Inner preferably slated'in a recess or pocket 2G in block 19, bearing by its other end against the rear faces of blocks 1?), clearly shown. Said spring may be used or not as desired.

1t will be observed that the acute angle inclined faces 17 extend imvardly of the rear tapered portions 16 of the blocks 13. a distance somewhat less than the length of the outer taper 15, whereby to provide, between said outer tapered portions and the inner face of the easing 5, ample clearance,

and also to insure termination of the frictional faces'll; at a point somewhat in adA Vance of or beyond the` inner terminals of faces 17. This difference approximates the longitudinal difference between the locations a and b, Fig. 2, and is of advantage in facilitating collapsing,r of the friction-creating wedge blocks 13 upon release of pressure of the faces 21 of the central wedge block 2O from the inner faces 22.

lnterposed between the inner rear end of casing 5 and the back face of block 19 is a pressure spring 27 adapted, when the gear is compressed, to force acute angle block 19 between faces 17 of the friction creating wedge blocks 13 in pulling, or to maintain block 19 against the inward travel of said blocks, in' batting.

The operation is as follows: In either buiing or pulling, the pressure exerted between `the central wedge block 2O and blocks 13 effects a partial separation of the blocks, bringing them into intimate contact with the inner face of the casing, within the limi tations of the blunt angles 2l, The blocks 13 having been set against the casing lwith frictional engagement as limited by the separating eflicieney of blunt angles 21, said blocks and block 2t) will then travel together in bufling, or will remain inert with relation to the casing 5, in pulling. Coaction of acute angle faces 17 and 18 then effects a powerful additional separation of the blocks 18 and a resulting corresponding increase of frictional resistance between faces 14.and the interior of the casing, in proportion to the pressure exerted by the wedge block 20,' or the resistance thereof. Thus, at the commencement of the operation, the blocks 13 Yill be set out against the interior of the casing and will bind thereagainst with increased friction, in addition t.; the resistance of spring 27, depending upon the .Spreading action of the acute angle wedge 1S. Upon release of pressure and separatiim ot' the blunt angle wedge block 20 from the blunt angle faces blocks 15S will collapse, duc to release of binding engagement, assisted by the vclearance effected by the termination of the friction faces 14 in front of the inner termination of the friction faces 17. l'n other words the blocks 13, due to their mounting by their inner ends on blocks 1S, operate somewhat in the manner of levers, the action being ass steil by the spreading eilect of spring 25.

having described my invention, what I claim is: n

1. In a. friction draft gear, the combination of a casing, a. relatively movable drawbar, frictioircreating wedge blocks having friction .faces engaging the casing, a butling block interposed between the drawbar and said wedge blocks, and a wedge block interposed between the inner end of the casing and said wedge blocks longitudinally beyond the termination of its friction faces.

2. In a friction draft gear, the combina tion of a casing, a relatively movable drawbar, friction-creating wedge blocks having outer friction faces engaging the casing, inner blunt angle faces at their outer ends, and inner acute angle faces at their opposite ends ,longitudinally beyond the outer friction faces, a bu'liing blockengaging the blunt angle faces of said wedge blocks and opposing the drawbar, a wedge block engaging the acute angle faces thereof, and a spring interposed between said last named wedge block and the friction-creating wedge blocks, substantially as set forth.

In a friction draft gear, the combination of a'casing, a relatively movable drawbar, friction-creating wedge blocks engag ing the casinghavino sets of front and rear inner opposed wedge faces and front inwardly extending retaining lips, a bufling block interposed between the drawbar and said wedge bloclsand having co-acting re taining lips, a wedge block interposed between th'e rear wedge faces, and a spring between said wedge block and the inner end of the casing, substantially as set forth:

4. In a friction draft gear, the combination `of a casing, a relatively movable drawbar, friction-creating wedge blocks having friction .faces engaging the casing and rear inwardly disposed portions having inner acute angle wedge faces and front inner blunt angle faces, a butling block opposing the drawbar and engaging the blunt angle faces, and an acute' angle wedge block interposed between and engaging the acute angle iiililllllllllllliilii.1ilillliillimitata Mees of the fctism--srening Wedge Mockexg subsmmaly as Sa forth.

5. n a friction mit gwn', h@ Qmnbm #dan of a casing, a relatively movabe im-w bar, friirmcreatng wed.; bocks uwng' cton faces 'engaging' he. casing, front hmm. bium; angle faces :mil ma? inwmfdy fisposd portiona having imm? acute angle vmdge faces, a bu'fng bock opposing the clmwbar and engaging the blunt angle farms, nu acute angl@ Wedge block interposed be weeu and @gagging th@ acu angl@ ces 0:41 th@ ciin,-cr-mna11g weg@ wuchs, im@ spring @gagging said anni@ angl@ Wedgo Mock and the rear ends of the ficon- Creating Wedge blocks, substantially is set o'th.

M testimony whereof I hereuno ux my 

